Mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggered by HCV RNA.

<p>2 µg/ml HCV RNA was transfected in RIG-I silenced THP-1 cells, 6 hours later cells were harvested for IL1-β mRNA expression by Q-PCR (A), the supernatants were harvested for IL-1β ELISA (B). C, Cells were stimulated with HCV RNA for 6 hours, and the supernatant and whole cell lysates were harvested for immunoblotting. D–E, THP-1 derived macrophages were pretreated with ROS inhibitor DPI for half an hour, then challenged with HCV RNA (2 µg/ml) or LPS (1 µg/ml), 6 hours later the supernatants were harvested for IL-1β ELISA. Data presented are the mean ± SD of one representative figure out of three independent experiments. ***represents P<0.001, **represents P<0.01 and *represents P<0.05 in comparison with controls during statistical analysis.